Fluminense v Bolivar Prediction: 12/5 Tricolor to secure first win

Fluminense are still waiting for their first win of this season's Copa Libertadores but have an excellent chance of clinching victory against Bolivar on Tuesday.

The Brazilian side currently sit bottom of the Group C table having drawn two and lost two of their first four matches.

Fluminense lost to this week's opponents 2-0 playing at altitude in Bolivia at the end of April, however, hosting at the Maracana the Tricolor will be quietly confident of getting their campaign back on track.

Faring well in the Brazilian Serie A table, Fluminense are third and are in the title race, so head coach Luis Zubeldia will be hoping his side can take their league form into the Copa Libertadores.

Bolivar, meanwhile, have only one win to their name in the season's tournament, but that came against Fluminense, so the Bolivian giants know they can get the job done.

Away from home though, Bolivar are considered huge underdogs.

Fluminense v Bolivar Tips Summary

Best Bet - Fluminense to win and under 2.5 goals @ 12/5
Alternative Bet - Draw @ 19/4
Bet Builder - Fluminense to win, Both teams to score, Under 8.5 corners & John Kennedy to score first @ 8/1

Fluminense v Bolivar Prediction

Best Bet: Fluminense to win and under 2.5 goals @ 12/5

Fluminense are favourites to win on Tuesday to get their Copa Libertadores season going at the fifth time of asking.

The Tricolor head into the game in high spirits having beaten Sao Paolo to tighten their grip on third in Serie A and move six points clear of their rivals.

They are unbeaten in four games and will be eager to continue the run.

Zubeldia's men have only lost twice at the Maracana this campaign with those defeats occurring in the same week.

Making the most of home advantage will be key if they are to climb from the bottom of the group and progress to the next stage.

Bolivar have not won in four games and suffered a 3-2 defeat at the hands of Universitario de Vinto, a setback as they sit second in the FBF Division Profesional, three points off leaders The Strongest.

In the Copa Libertadores, all four Bolivar games have featured two goals or less, while only one Fluminense match has seen more than two goals scored.

With those figures in mind, backing Fluminense to win and the game to see under 2.5 goals may prove a smart move.

Alternative Bet: Draw @ 19/4

Bolivar's best chance of taking something in Brazil will likely stem from keeping it tight.

Having featured in low-scoring matches so far in the Copa Libertadores, the Bolivians will try to make it difficult for Fluminense.

The longer they can keep the hosts at bay, the greater the pressure will grow in the Maracana as home fans urge their team forward, as a win is so needed to keep their Copa Libertadores hopes alive.

The Tricolor have been held by Deportivo La Guaira, while also taking just a point in two games against Independiente Rivadavia.

If Bolivar are able to stifle early attacks then they could be the latest team to frustrate Fluminense, avoiding defeat in two matches against the Brazilians.

Fluminense v Bolivar Bet Builder

• Fluminense to win

• Both teams to score

• Under 8.5 corners

• John Kennedy to score first

  Pays 8/1

Fluminense are favourites to win, but it's wise to look at the numbers around scoring when considering a bet builder for Tuesday’s fixture.

The Brazilian side have found the net in seven of their last nine matches, while scoring two or more goals on six occasions. However, in that time, they have failed to keep a clean sheet.

Therefore, the numbers suggest Bolivar will get opportunities in Brazil and the Bolivians have failed to score just twice since the start of April.

Looking at corners, backing under 8.5 corners may be a smart pick as there were only three corners taken the last time these two sides met.

While Bolivar hit seven in their most recent Copa Libertadores outing, Fluminense recorded only two against Independiente Rivadavia.

As for goalscorers, John Kennedy has opened the scoring in each of Fluminense's last three matches across all competitions.

The striker has nine goals in 19 games, netting at a rate of nearly one goal every two matches.

Learn more about how Bet Builders work in our Bet Builder guide.

Key Match Stats

• John Kennedy has been on the scoresheet in five of Fluminense's last seven games

• The Brazilians are unbeaten in four matches, winning two and drawing two

• Bolivar are winless in their last four games across all competitions

• The Bolivians won the last meeting between these two sides 2-0 at the end of April

• Fluminense won their first Copa Libertadores in November 2023

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This article was written by a partner sports writer via Spotlight Sports Group. All odds displayed on this page were correct at the time of writing and are subject to withdrawal or change at any time.